Natural Science Forum / Earth Science / Mineralogy / February 2004

Here is a coloration test for distinguishing white beryl from quartz. It
can be run in the field conditions:
1. A grain of the mineral is put on a nickel lid of a fusion crucible with
4-5 pellets of sodium hydroxide.

can anybody help me in finding literature (Handbook, Description, Methods
for optcal adjustment) on the Russuian (Soviet-)made mineralogical
Polarisation-Microscope MIN8?
H. Koss

I'm looking for someplace (preferably in the United States, and
preferably in New York State, but anywhere is fine) where I can get an
olivine crystal cut down to a small disc (about 1cm diameter, 2mm
thick).  One side of the disc need only look flat.  The other side,

from a meteor.I think it´s dangerous, it looks nice, but it smells bad
and it doesn´t taste well.
What do you recommend I should do with this radioactive mineral ?
It´s probably valuable, so I want to keep it.